Phil Taylor is back on the oche this week as he takes on Raymond van Barneveld from his living room and he is not ruling out one last shot at the big time in the PDC next year.
The Power and Barney meet in an online clash on Thursday night, reigniting a rivalry that dates back 30 years to their first competitive game way back in 1990.
Taylor is adamant the latest chapter in his epic tussle with Van Barneveld is just a bit of fun, but there could be some more serious arrows in his future, with the 16-time world champion keen to return at the UK Open next year.
‘I was going to enter this year, at one of the qualifying competitions at my local Rileys club, but if I had qualified for the main draw,’ said Taylor. ‘I was scheduled to be away in Japan.
‘I said to Barry [Hearn] “I might have a go at that” and he said “it would be brilliant if you can” but it just so happened that I couldn’t. I’d have loved to have had a little go at it.
‘If it’s on next year, I might have a little go at the local Riley’s club, why not?
‘I do [fancy my chances] on what I saw last year, the amount of texts I get saying: “You can still win this Taylor, get your darts out.” I’m thinking “get lost.”
‘After next year I’m retiring fully, so it’s pipe and slippers after that one.’
While the Power can turn it on again for one tournament, he has completely ruled out a comeback to the PDC tour as his body can’t manage it.
‘I’m too old now,’ the 59-year-old explained. ‘I’ve got arthritis in my right hip, I’ve got to have a new hip fitted.
‘I pulled my back, I’ve crushed a disk a disk in my back so I’m not physically fit enough to compete against these youngsters now and put the practice in.
‘You’ve got to practice two or three hours a day, I just couldn’t do it now. And the travelling, I do not miss the travelling.’
Taylor is fit and ready to take on Barney on Thursday night though, a game staged by Paddy Power and Target Darts to ease the boredom of coronavirus lockdown, but more importantly to raise money for charity Heroes, who will get £1,000 from Paddy Power for every 180 thrown.
The two legends of the game will compete on a Target Nexus dartboard, filmed from their own homes, but they will be able to see and speak to each other throughout.
‘Paddy Power are sending some equipment up,’ explained Taylor. ‘It’s all going to be sanitised, left on me car park, so someone will go and pick it up and bring it in.
‘They’ve told me how to set it up, then I’ll put it back outside in the box and they’ll come and pick it up and take it away.
‘It’s like James Bond stuff this is, it’s ever so strange.’
Taylor vs Barney was the showpiece match in darts for a number of years following Barney’s jump from BDO to PDC in 2006, with the pinnacle of the rivalry coming in the 2007 World Championship final.
Still recognised as arguably the greatest game of all time, Barney edged it in a deciding leg after an epic tussle, although the Power got his revenge with a 7-1 walloping in the 2009 final.
That 2007 loss still annoys Taylor, but it is a rivalry he feels has enriched his legendary career.
‘I’ve loved it over the years, in fairness, and it’s strange that it’s the first time we’ve actually going to work together, playing against each other on nice terms, where we’re not battling against each other,’ said the Stoke hero.
‘I should have never lost that [2007 final]. I’m sitting here now thinking that’s money I’ve thrown away there that I could have used now.
‘It was the most talked about rivalry. Sky would put up “Taylor vs Barneveld” and they had a clock ticking down for a few weeks.’
The Power is adamant that this final clash with RvB is all about raising money for the NHS, but the competitive spirit can never fully be quelled.
‘You don’t want to lose it, no!’ Phil said. ‘I shall be texting him tonight at 1 o’clock saying, “Are you sleeping well Barney?”’
The match will be live at 7pm on Thursday via Paddy Power’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channels..
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